Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Haiti

Haiti Weekly Emergency Situation Report No. 22 (19 - 25 January 2005)


Highlights

  • WFP Haiti is hosting a project design mission with members from FAO/WFP Headquarters in Rome and the Regional Office. The mission will assist the Country office to prepare a new project for the continuation of WFP activities. This mission follows a food consumption survey recently conducted in four departments, and for which results are now being finalised.

  • On 21 January, one of the three WFP vehicles stolen in December was recovered with the assistance of UNSECOORD. The whereabouts of the other two vehicles remain unclear.

  • Since the onset of the floods in Gonaïves, a total of 4,473 MT of WFP-supplied food commodities have been distributed in Gonaïves and other affected areas;


Security and political environment

The entire country continues in UN security phase III. The security environment remains uncertain and volatile. Common crime and/or political violence continue to be reported in several areas of Port au Prince. Relatively less violence was reported in other areas of the country. However, insecurity continues to hamper humanitarian activities.

In Port-au-Prince, security situation remained stable during the reporting period. Acts of violence continue to be reported and several security incidents took place during the reporting period.

  • One of the three WFP vehicles hijacked in December 2004 was recuperated on 24 January 2005 with the assistance of UNSECOORD. The Toyota Land cruiser, which was brand new, was recovered from the hands of the Haitian National Police and in a deplorable state with many parts missing.

  • On January 25, the Haitian National police conducted a security operation in the Commune of “Carrefour Commune”, Port-au-Prince. During the operation, two gang members were reportedly killed and several others were arrested.

Other security incidents were reported in the North particularly in Cap Haitien where several acts of violence were reported. On January 25, one well-known businessman was killed while armed bandits terrorised the population in “Fosette” area, a neighbourhood of Cap Haitien. Also regular barricades and stone-throwing riots are reported in the popular areas of Cap Haitien

The situation in and around Gonaives was relatively calm and no incidents involving humanitarian agencies were reported during the reporting period.

Emergency Operation in Gonaïves Update:

A total of 357 MT of WFP food commodities were distributed by the implementing partner CARE to 6,725 beneficiaries in localities that had been heavily affected in the aftermath of hurricane Jeanne in the commune of Gonaïves. Distributions were held at a rate of 1-2 distribution sites per day.

The total of food distributed in Gonaïves and its outskirts since the onset of the crisis is 4,262 MT. while the total of food distributed in other affected areas (Port de Paix, Chansolme, etc.) is 211 MT.

Other activities

During the reporting period, a total of 352 MT of food were delivered to health centres (EMOP and CP) in the West, North and North-East departments and to the various implementing partners of PRRO activities in the North-West and Port-au-Prince.

In addition, WFP dispatched a total of 390 MT of food commodities to CARE’s EDP in Gonaïves to be pre-positioned for the continuing distributions to flood victims.

WFP sub-office in Cap Haitien conducted a survey on People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in eleven health institutions in various communes of the North.

The sub-office also conducted the distribution of school materials privately donated by staff members of WFP Headquarters (Rome) to students of “Saint Vincent de Paul”, a Primary School in Cap Haitien. The materials included exercise books, pencils, etc.

Logistics issues:

  • WFP continues to move the food containers from the seaport of Port-au-Prince. The process continues to be delayed by lack of proper handling equipment. Some 246 food containers remain to be cleared/moved.

  • The total food stocks in the country are estimated at 9,158 MT of which 4,140 MT are in WFP warehouses and available for distribution while over 5,018 MT remain at the port.
Commodities dispatched to Gonaïves from Port au Prince
Commodity
19-25 January 2005
Total (Since 21st September)
Rice
390
3,198
Fortified Maize Meal
243
CSB/WSB
95
Beans
361
Vegetable Oil
246
Canned Fish
39
High Energy Biscuits
-
100
Fortified Biscuits
-
231
Total (MT)
390
4,513
Bread (loaves of 600g.)
-
90,220

In country food stocks, (25 January 2005):
COMMODITIES
PAP
CAP
TOTAL in WFP warehouses
Stocks at PAP port
Total in-country Stocks
WSB/CSB/PWB
781
262
1,042
428
1,470
RICE
1,108
879
1,987
2,623
4,610
BISCUITS
-
MML
164
164
164
PULSES
243
242
485
445
930
HUILE
126
210
337
1,159
1,496
CAN FISH
31
20
51
277
328
CAN BEEF
9
9
9
SUCRE
1
1
86
87
SEL
62
2
65
-
65
TOTAL
2,516
1,624
4,140
5,018
9,158

Total Stock in WFP warehouses: 4,140 MT